Kushner Calls Madoff a Murderer

Playwright Tony Kushner called convicted Ponzi-schemer Bernard Madoff (pictured) a "murderer" Monday night, reasoning that his epic investment fraud starved charities that work to save people's lives.

The Angels in America creator spoke at a benefit concert in New York City for American Jewish World Service and Partners in Health; a major AJWS donor had lost moneyby investing with Madoff, according to New York magazine.

"One of the horrors of the Madoff scandal is this guy really killed people," said Kushner, according to New York magazine. "The work that American Jewish World Service does, and Partners in Health, is not just beneficial. It is in many places, like Darfur, the difference between life and death. If you close down things like AIDS clinics all over Africa, people die. So Bernie Madoff, in my opinion, is a murderer," he said.

Kushner organized the benefit concert with celebrity friends like Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig, Kevin Kline, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, who sang songs from Mother Courage and Her Children.